President Klaus Iohannis stated on Wednesday that the 74th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) represents an opportunity to step up the implementation of the UN reform package, adding that “you can count on Romania and our active commitment in achieving these ambitious endeavours.”
“With the fall of the hideous communist regime, 30 years ago, my country embarked on a new era of freedom, democracy and prosperity. The Iron Curtain was replaced by our strong determination to re-join the family of western values and to interact openly with the rest of the world, driven by the deep respect for democratic principles and International Rule of Law. Today, we are – all of us – profoundly interconnected by multilateral governance and, more than ever, we must value the genuine spirit of cooperation the United Nations has always promoted and which is indispensable for finding efficient solutions to the international challenges. The forthcoming 75th anniversary of the United Nations in 2020 is an opportunity for our Organisation to step up the implementation of the UN Secretary General’s ambitious reform package, renew our Organisation and make sure that it delivers for all. You can count on Romania and our active commitment in achieving these ambitious endeavours,” President Iohannis stated within the national speech delivered at the general debates of the 74th Sessions of the UN General Assembly, which takes place in New York.
The President said he is honored to address the General Assembly and to present “a renewed commitment of Romania to multilateralism and the rules-based international order, with the United Nations at its core.”
“We continue to witness deliberate actions aiming at undermining security in the Black Sea region”
He also emphasized that “there are still deliberate actions aiming at undermining security” in the Black Sea region and underscored that Romania remains a pillar of stability in the region.
“Development and security go hand in hand. Nevertheless, the approach based on the security-development nexus may not be enough to overcome the security challenges, as these may have roots going beyond the development dimension. Unfortunately, we continue to witness, in our region, deliberate actions aiming at undermining security. The belt of unresolved conflicts around the Black Sea – which has strategic importance for the transatlantic security – remains a serious source of instability, hampering regional cooperation and the overall international security,” the head of state said in the national speech delivered at the general debates of the 74th Sessions of the UN General Assembly, which takes place in New York.
He added that “the military presence on other countries’ territories without their consent, military build-ups, aggressive gestures, threats to use force and the use of hybrid tactics to undermine the internal stability are worrying developments and should be rejected by all of us.”
“Romania remains a strong supporter of the multilateral rules-based international order built around the United Nations, which represents our best hope to tackle such challenges. The effectiveness of this international order depends on the willingness of all UN Members to engage in finding lasting multilateral solutions, in conformity with the UN core values. Romania is strongly committed to act in this way, as a pillar of stability in the region and we constantly supported the UN efforts in tackling such risks, including through the United Nations General Assembly resolutions pertaining to these matters,” Iohannis showed.
“Romania was not spared by adverse effects of the climate change”
Romania’s Head of State stated on Wednesday, in New York, that climate change is a global challenge and showed that Romania’s national strategy on this issue was designed with the aim to shape an economy resilient to climate change, with low carbon dioxide emissions, able of integrating climate policies through smart economic growth.
“Romania was not spared by the adverse effects of climate change. But we came to this session of the General Assembly with a sense of hope and responsibility. Hope that it is not too late to secure a safe and environmentally-friendly planet for our children and responsibility to undertake concrete steps in order to keep the pace with our promises under the Paris Agreement and the rules agreed in Katowice, including by pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase at 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level. Our National Strategy on Climate Change has been conceived with the aim to shape an economy resilient to climate change, with low carbon dioxide emissions, able to integrate climate policies through a smart economic growth. Our objective is to reach, by 2050, a society in which economic, social and environmental policies are interconnected and designed to ensure sustainable development, high living standards and quality of environment,” President Iohannis stated within the national speech delivered at the general debates of the 74th Sessions of the UN General Assembly, which takes place in New York.
Romania firmly condemns the terrorist attacks
Romania firmly condemns the terrorist attacks, Iohannis also underscored on Wednesday in the United Nations General Assembly, which takes place in New York.
“Romania reiterates its deep concern regarding the global spread and magnitude of terrorism and condemns in the strongest terms the continued recurrence of terrorist attacks, including those targeting representatives of diplomatic missions. Recently, such attacks in Kabul, Afghanistan, tragically ended the life of two Romanian citizens and seriously wounded one,” Iohannis stated in the national speech delivered at the general debates of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly.
He reiterated Romania’s firm commitment to fight terrorism at international level, using all the available tools, including international law.
The head of state brought to mind that Romania welcomed the reform launched by the UN Secretary General in the beginning of his tenure and supported the Organisation efforts aimed at enhancing coordination and improving the coherence in implementing the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
“Let me reassure you of Romania’s full support in the endeavour to galvanise multilateral efforts for poverty eradication, quality education, climate action and inclusion during the whole of the seventy forth session of the General Assembly,” Iohannis concluded at the end of his speech.
